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Hydrogen Fuel Combustion in Energy Systems

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "A5: Hydrogen Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 March 2026) | Viewed by 1475

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
Interests: thermodynamics; alternative fuels; hydrogen combustion; hydrogen fuel cells and hybrid systems for propulsion; aviation emissions

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK
Interests: hydrogen; ammonia; energy systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a next-generation energy carrier, offering a clean, versatile, and high-performance alternative to fossil fuels. Its combustion produces only water vapor, eliminating direct carbon emissions and aligning with global decarbonization goals. Unlike conventional fuels, hydrogen possesses the highest gravimetric energy density, enabling transformative applications across aviation, power generation, and heavy transport. Advances in storage, distribution, and high-efficiency combustion technologies are accelerating its integration into both stationary and mobile energy platforms. However, challenges such as low volumetric energy density, material compatibility, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) formation during high-temperature combustion remain critical barriers. Addressing these challenges of hydrogen fuel combustion is essential for positioning it as a pivotal technology for achieving resilient, low-carbon energy systems worldwide.

This Special Issue will present and disseminate the most recent advances related to the fundamentals, design, modelling, applications, control, optimization, and emission mitigation of hydrogen fuel combustion across energy and propulsion systems. Topics of interest include the following:

  • Fundamental studies of hydrogen combustion kinetics and flame dynamics;
  • Hydrogen combustion in gas turbines, reciprocating engines, and industrial systems;
  • NOx formation, suppression, and advanced emission mitigation strategies;
  • Hydrogen–air mixing, ignition, and flame stabilization techniques;
  • Combustion modelling, CFD simulation, and digital twin approaches;
  • Hybrid hydrogen energy systems combining combustion and fuel cells;
  • Materials, durability, and compatibility in hydrogen combustion environments;
  • Hydrogen storage, delivery, and safety in combustion applications;
  • Novel burner, injector, and chamber design for hydrogen fuels;
  • Hydrogen combustion in aviation, marine, and heavy-duty transport;
  • Thermal management, efficiency optimization, and waste heat recovery;
  • Emerging technologies: ammonia/hydrogen blends, synthetic fuels, and co-combustion.

Dr. Rukshan Navaratne
Dr. Mohammad Alnajideen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hydrogen combustion
  • hydrogen fuel
  • gas turbines
  • reciprocating engines
  • propulsion
  • power generation
  • NOx emissions
  • acoustics
  • flame stability
  • combustion modelling
  • sustainable energy systems

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1671 KB  
Article
Experimental Investigation of a Hydrogen Power Unit Operating on Hydrogen-Enriched HHO Gas
by K. B. Tynyshtykbayev, D. V. Bouhvalov, N. A. Chuchvaga, E. A. Dmitrieva, B. Zhumabay, P. Kousherova, B. Rakymetov, A. Serikbekov, A. S. Serikkanov and A. Ainabayev
Energies 2026, 19(12), 2764; https://doi.org/10.3390/en19122764 - 9 Jun 2026
Viewed by 164
Abstract
This study presents experimental investigations of a hydrogen power unit operating on hydrogen–oxygen gas mixtures produced by water electrolysis (HHO gas). The system was operated with additional molecular hydrogen enrichment in order to investigate the influence of hydrogen concentration on combustion characteristics and [...] Read more.
This study presents experimental investigations of a hydrogen power unit operating on hydrogen–oxygen gas mixtures produced by water electrolysis (HHO gas). The system was operated with additional molecular hydrogen enrichment in order to investigate the influence of hydrogen concentration on combustion characteristics and system performance. The flame temperature of the HHO + H2 mixture was measured as a function of hydrogen concentration. The results show that the flame temperature increases nonlinearly with hydrogen content, approaching ~2800 °C under the investigated conditions at about 30 vol.% hydrogen in the enriched mixture. Despite the increase in flame temperature, the effective calorific value of the HHO + H2 mixture remains significantly lower than that of pure hydrogen because the electrolysis-derived gas contains oxygen and excess water vapor. The presence of water vapor acts as a thermal diluent, influencing combustion behavior and suppressing autoignition under the investigated operating conditions. Optimal operating parameters for the hydrogen power unit were determined from experimental measurements. The results indicate that hydrogen-enriched HHO mixtures can be operated safely under controlled conditions and may represent a potential working medium for hydrogen-based energy conversion systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen Fuel Combustion in Energy Systems)
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15 pages, 5135 KB  
Article
Numerical Analysis of Factors Affecting NOx Emissions in Hydrogen-Fueled Micromix Combustors
by Minsu Kim, Seojun Ock and Suhyeon Park
Energies 2025, 18(23), 6168; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18236168 - 25 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 875
Abstract
Micromix combustion is a promising approach to addressing issues such as flashback, combustion instability, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in hydrogen-fueled gas turbines. In this study, a numerical analysis was conducted to investigate key factors influencing NOx emissions in a [...] Read more.
Micromix combustion is a promising approach to addressing issues such as flashback, combustion instability, and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in hydrogen-fueled gas turbines. In this study, a numerical analysis was conducted to investigate key factors influencing NOx emissions in a lab-scale micromix combustor under atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The effects of air flow rate, equivalence ratio, and combustor component surface temperature on NOx formation were systematically evaluated. The results show that increasing the air and hydrogen flow rates at a constant equivalence ratio reduced NOx emissions due to shorter residence times. In addition, higher surface temperatures of combustor components increased flame temperatures and NOx production. Lastly, high equivalence ratios led to partial flame merging, increasing NOx emissions. These findings highlight that the efficient cooling of combustor components and proper selection of air flow rate and equivalence ratio are critical to minimizing NOx emissions in micromix combustors. The study provides design and operational guidelines for the future development of hydrogen-fueled gas turbines. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogen Fuel Combustion in Energy Systems)
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